I don't know if you would call it a tip, but come the Holidays, I always make it a point to hand the crew members each a few bucks. Most people on my street do the same. I guess, if you are a garbageman, other than New York, it is the one time of the year you don't want to have a day off.

I don't know if you would call it a tip, but come the Holidays, I always make it a point to hand the crew members each a few bucks. Most people on my street do the same. I guess, if you are a garbageman, other than New York, it is the one time of the year you don't want to have a day off.

I also leave the postman a few dollars in the mailbox, the last mail delivery day before Christmas, along with a note thanking him for his service.

Wow. A $1500 fine for accepting a $20 tip. I'm glad my bosses rule is "If they offer the extra work and pay you for it, then do it. Just get our work done first and don't use up consumables doing extras. If you get a tip, get a 6 pack to split with everyone else and keep the rest. It it's a good tip, get a bag and smoke us out." We're all perfectly fine with those rules.

I don't check my mail as often as I should because I keep track of bills on-line and I rarely receive anything worth checking the box, besides the occasional Pizza coupon. At the end of last Summer, I took a day off of work and I was in the house when I heard the mailman pull up. It was a very hot day and I wanted to give him something to show my appreciation and kind of apologize for making him stuff mail into my box everyday. I grabbed a couple bottles of water, ran out to his truck and gave him a heartfelt apology for being a dick and never checking my mail, which I knew made more work for him. He took the water, smiled, and said, "this isn't my route. I'm just over here because the normal mailman couldn't come in." *Vroooooooom* Then, he took off. Lol. I never did get my regular guy that water.

AugieDoggyDaddy:Accepting a "tip" for removing some extra trash is tantamount to accepting a bribe. The reason it was wrong for him to accept the bribe is only the union bosses are permitted at accept bribes.

The guys who would offer us money for side jobs were contractors. A lot of the time the shiat they wanted us to pick up was building materials that were supposed to be thrown away in a bin. It was cheaper for the contractor to pay us than it was the rent a bin. The shiat they were throwing away wasnt supposed to go into the normal city trucks.

No, I dont know why. I would imagine concrete and giant pieces of wood could fark up the truck though.

OK, so stop tipping them in cash and grab some gift cards instead. It doesn't look like there's any rules against accepting those...just can't take cash. I'm sure that anyone would appreciate a gift card for a coffee shop...or maybe a gift card for the movies. Hell, even a gift card for a lunch somewhere would be appreciated.

Not me, but they broke my mail box and didn't leave a note or anything. I checked my mail the night before when I took the can down, box was fine, The next morning it was in pieces on the ground next to my garbage can, which the can was 6ft away from the box the night before. Both had scuff marks on them. I'm a bit OCD and place it in the same spot every single time, away from the POS box, trying to prevent this from happening. They also like putting my can right in the middle of the driveway instead of off to the side. Since then, I've made it a point to teach my dogs to crap in the area my can goes.

Break my mail box and I'll make sure you step in dog shiat once a week.

Not me, but they broke my mail box and didn't leave a note or anything. I checked my mail the night before when I took the can down, box was fine, The next morning it was in pieces on the ground next to my garbage can, which the can was 6ft away from the box the night before. Both had scuff marks on them. I'm a bit OCD and place it in the same spot every single time, away from the POS box, trying to prevent this from happening. They also like putting my can right in the middle of the driveway instead of off to the side. Since then, I've made it a point to teach my dogs to crap in the area my can goes.

Break my mail box and I'll make sure you step in dog shiat once a week.

Did you ask them about it? Maybe it was an accident.

And I cant image they stepped in your dogs shiat more than once. You probably get joggers more than anyone.

I *wanted* to tip my garbage men - yeah, they use that mechanical claw thing, but they had to pull a *lot* of them out of snow this year - but they show up while I'm at the office and while the SO is sleeping from his night shift. Sorry, guys.

I was gonna tip the mailman as well, but in December we got a new one who is kind of a jerk who just stopped delivering mail when we didn't shovel the (side of the road) mailbox well enough for him. Apparently. I could drive my damn Neon up to the box and reach, but he couldn't. And we didn't figure it out until a week of no mail (pay most bills electronically anyhow).

So the moral of the story is it was a lot easier for my stay at home Mom to tip those folks. But I tried, or actively didn't try.

StreetlightInTheGhetto:I *wanted* to tip my garbage men - yeah, they use that mechanical claw thing, but they had to pull a *lot* of them out of snow this year - but they show up while I'm at the office and while the SO is sleeping from his night shift. Sorry, guys.

I walked through sand all year round. The community was appreciates the job we do and we appreciate them taking care of us. I dont do it anymore but one take away from the job - please dont leave stale water in the bottom of your can in the summer. Maggots and 900 lb backs of trash on a 95 degree day is pretty much the worst.

They are really the two heads of the same coin. The Post Office delivers a pile of garbage to my house a few times a week, I take it strait from the mailbox and put it in the garbage can, then the trash man comes and takes it away. It's a really, really inefficient way to turn trees into landfill filler, but hey, at least it creates jobs or something.

Not me, but they broke my mail box and didn't leave a note or anything. I checked my mail the night before when I took the can down, box was fine, The next morning it was in pieces on the ground next to my garbage can, which the can was 6ft away from the box the night before. Both had scuff marks on them. I'm a bit OCD and place it in the same spot every single time, away from the POS box, trying to prevent this from happening. They also like putting my can right in the middle of the driveway instead of off to the side. Since then, I've made it a point to teach my dogs to crap in the area my can goes.

Break my mail box and I'll make sure you step in dog shiat once a week.

Did you ask them about it? Maybe it was an accident.

And I cant image they stepped in your dogs shiat more than once. You probably get joggers more than anyone.

I don't like waking up that early to ask. If it was an accident a simple "I'm sorry" would suffice, no money, issues, or nothing. I'm accident prone so I'd have understood.

The fact that I place it 6ft on one side of the box and they place it 2 ft on the other side (hint: directly in my driveway) every week leads me to believe they likely broke it or they're just dicks like me. For 13 years I've placed the garbage can in that same spot, it was never moved, nothing broke, no problems. Only in the past 2 years has the wandering can been an issue.

No joggers, just old people walking and old people walking dogs. Other than this one guy who jogs the middle of the street at night, there haven't been any joggers since the high school girl graduated :(. There's a lot of landmines within the first 2 feet of everyone's property around here, if it doesn't happen at my house, it'll happen somewhere in my neighborhood.

skeevy420:I don't like waking up that early to ask. If it was an accident a simple "I'm sorry" would suffice, no money, issues, or nothing. I'm accident prone so I'd have understood.

The fact that I place it 6ft on one side of the box and they place it 2 ft on the other side (hint: directly in my driveway) every week leads me to believe they likely broke it or they're just dicks like me. For 13 years I've placed the garbage can in that same spot, it was never moved, nothing broke, no problems. Only in the past 2 years has the wandering can been an issue.

Weird. It could be as simple as asking them to not put the can in the middle of the driveway. My experience would say that they are doing the job quickly and lazily. Some garbage guys are flaky (I am trying to be nice). Maybe call the parent company if they hit your box again.

Yogimus:The reason they don't want tips is because it will result in a weaker bargaining position for them when it comes to raises.

/SEE: Food service industry

No crap. When I waited tables I made sure to also have a job in the kitchen at the same time so I'd at least be making minimum wage + tips versus waiter's wage (2.13/hr) + tips. Minimum wage was $6.50 at the time.

Gunny Highway:skeevy420: I don't like waking up that early to ask. If it was an accident a simple "I'm sorry" would suffice, no money, issues, or nothing. I'm accident prone so I'd have understood.

The fact that I place it 6ft on one side of the box and they place it 2 ft on the other side (hint: directly in my driveway) every week leads me to believe they likely broke it or they're just dicks like me. For 13 years I've placed the garbage can in that same spot, it was never moved, nothing broke, no problems. Only in the past 2 years has the wandering can been an issue.

Weird. It could be as simple as asking them to not put the can in the middle of the driveway. My experience would say that they are doing the job quickly and lazily. Some garbage guys are flaky (I am trying to be nice). Maybe call the parent company if they hit your box again.

They could also be dicks haha.

/I apologize for making excuses for these guys

Possibly, but it's getting to be like it was in the past. My assumptions are the same as yours (doing it quick and lazily) as well as just figuring they got a new guy or the old one retired or quit or something.

I'm as much to blame as they are. I mean, I never brought it up and have been dickish about it. In the end it was a piece of crap box for $20 I was surprised that it lasted as long as it did.....still need to replace it (it's JB Welded together right now, lol)

Gunny Highway:Weird. It could be as simple as asking them to not put the can in the middle of the driveway. My experience would say that they are doing the job quickly and lazily. Some garbage guys are flaky (I am trying to be nice). Maybe call the parent company if they hit your box again.

They could also be dicks haha.

/I apologize for making excuses for these guys

The "trash men who destroy a mailbox and run" apologist... statistically a very, very rare breed (if only by the nature of the issue).

skeevy420:I'm as much to blame as they are. I mean, I never brought it up and have been dickish about it. In the end it was a piece of crap box for $20 I was surprised that it lasted as long as it did.....still need to replace it (it's JB Welded together right now, lol)

Gunny Highway:skeevy420: I'm as much to blame as they are. I mean, I never brought it up and have been dickish about it. In the end it was a piece of crap box for $20 I was surprised that it lasted as long as it did.....still need to replace it (it's JB Welded together right now, lol)

HA! You earn tips. Doesnt sound like these guys earned theirs.

Earned....as in 6 years ago over a 1 year period, on a job that requires tips to make a living. There's a difference. If I made the $15/hr* the trash men make round these parts I wouldn't need tips. That said, I've only had 2 tips since I've returned to construction. Both were food, but you just can't beat homemade garden fresh salsa or freshly canned jalapenos.

*I could make that if I quit smoking weed. But weed's the only thing I do (no drinking, pills, powders, rocks, etc) and I use it about 50/50 recreational and medicinally -- my mind races which causes me to not sleep for days on end. Smoke a little bit and my mind slows down enough for me to fall asleep. I tried sleeping pills, but my body quickly adjusted and before I knew it I was having to double/triple/quad dose for them to affect me, I became dependent and addicted to them, and they almost ruined my life. And spare me the moderate exercise crap, if USMC boot camp doesn't wear you out enough to sleep at night, hardly anything will.

Gunny Highway:Dow Jones and the Temple of Doom: Heliodorus: People tip their garbage men?

We don't "tip" them per se, but when we throw out last seasons fashions or old sportswear, we'll leave the kid off the garbage can and let them pick something.

I can confirm that that practice is appreciated.

Really?? I was doing my "fake upper middle class douchebag" schtick. Sadly, I'm too poor to tip you guys, but I do try to make sure collecting our stuff is as easy as possible. We never overfill the container, and we always try to put it in the best spot. We appreciate our guys very much, even if we can't contribute directly.

2. Garbage person. Usually a $20 envelope taped to lid of can on closest Xmas pick up. Cool? (Well now I guess it's gotta be a gift card, is that verifiably a work around??)

3. Super. $20-40 depending on his relative level of competence. Cool?

4. Haven't lived in 'luxury' building (ie like 15+ door/maintenance/whatever the fark you random people do) in a while. What's the fark suggestions? (Again, I do 'ok' but not very 'ok' by NYC standards/COL/rent/economy. They all ain't getting a $20.

5. Laundry DROP OFF! Big point of contention. I say no. It's a farking job mostly worked by owners. I'd totally tip a delivery guy. But if I'm dropping & picking up. The bill is the bill. Done.

6. Food delivery. Minimum 10-15% unless I got farked on time of delivery.

I don't check my mail as often as I should because I keep track of bills on-line and I rarely receive anything worth checking the box, besides the occasional Pizza coupon. At the end of last Summer, I took a day off of work and I was in the house when I heard the mailman pull up. It was a very hot day and I wanted to give him something to show my appreciation and kind of apologize for making him stuff mail into my box everyday. I grabbed a couple bottles of water, ran out to his truck and gave him a heartfelt apology for being a dick and never checking my mail, which I knew made more work for him. He took the water, smiled, and said, "this isn't my route. I'm just over here because the normal mailman couldn't come in." *Vroooooooom* Then, he took off. Lol. I never did get my regular guy that water.

A) I live in brooklyn, my sister is a psychotic over tipper (ex-service industry). And I need input (interwebs advice often all over the place).

B) I usually make good $ but high debt and unstable jobs. Soooo.....here goes.

1. Mailmen (er, persons). Usually a $10 in a 'thank you' envelope taped to inside box on closest Xmas pickup. Cool? Fark that...Federal employees that make $20/hour plus have a pretty golden retirement

2. Garbage person. Usually a $20 envelope taped to lid of can on closest Xmas pick up. Cool? (Well now I guess it's gotta be a gift card, is that verifiably a work around??) Fark that, my garbage guys drive a truck with a hydraulic arm. They never leave the air conditioned/heated cab, even when they drop shiat all over. And they make north of $18/hour.

4. Haven't lived in 'luxury' building (ie like 15+ door/maintenance/whatever the fark you random people do) in a while. What's the fark suggestions? (Again, I do 'ok' but not very 'ok' by NYC standards/COL/rent/economy. They all ain't getting a $20. See above

5. Laundry DROP OFF! Big point of contention. I say no. It's a farking job mostly worked by owners. I'd totally tip a delivery guy. But if I'm dropping & picking up. The bill is the bill. Done. My dry cleaner doesn't drop off, I have to go pick it up.

6. Food delivery. Minimum 10-15% unless I got farked on time of delivery. Yeah, I'm down for that

7. Restaurant. Usually 20% absent total dumb assness. BUT, I say before tax. Others say after. Tax is 8%, so I say fark that. After tax for me, but I also live in CA, so the waitstaff is making ~$8.50/hour + tips, I don't feel too bad for them. And they can thank the State legislature for the insane sales tax if they have an issue with it.

8. $1 for every drink at bar. Sometimes, sure, if drinking mixed drinks and they offer exceptional service, but not every drink (beer) and not every time.

9. Maybe leftover change for Starbucks style places. If they're nice. I don't do coffee, but little knosh/snack places and the like, yeah, sounds about right to me.

Maybe missed stuff. Like the guy holding the door at McDs can go fark himself. But any thoughts appreciated.

That Guy Jeff:They are really the two heads of the same coin. The Post Office delivers a pile of garbage to my house a few times a week, I take it strait from the mailbox and put it in the garbage can, then the trash man comes and takes it away. It's a really, really inefficient way to turn trees into landfill filler, but hey, at least it creates jobs or something.

We don't "tip" them per se, but when we throw out last seasons fashions or old sportswear, we'll leave the kid off the garbage can and let them pick something.

I can confirm that that practice is appreciated.

Really?? I was doing my "fake upper middle class douchebag" schtick. Sadly, I'm too poor to tip you guys, but I do try to make sure collecting our stuff is as easy as possible. We never overfill the container, and we always try to put it in the best spot. We appreciate our guys very much, even if we can't contribute directly.

I know guys that would take stuff home for their kids. Athletic equipment was always a great find. We also had a hockey net set up at the dump and were able to scrape together enough sticks to have three on three games haha.